Oasis Class

The Oasis Class (formerly known as Project Genesiscite web|url=http://www.royalcaribbean-genesis.com/releases/052308_Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |publisher=Royal Caribbean International|title=Press Release: Royal Caribean selects "Oasis of the Seas" and "Allure of the Seas" as the names for its Project Genesis ships|date=2008-05-23|accessdate=2008-05-23|format=PDF] ) is a class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, the first of which was ordered in February 2006. The first ship is scheduled to be delivered towards the end of 2009. The two ships ordered in the class are to be named MS|Oasis of the Seas|3=2 and MS|Allure of the Seas|3=2. [cite web|publisher=USA Today|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/cruiselog/2008/05/and-the-second.html?csp=34 |title=Royal Caribbean's next ships will be Oasis, Allure|date=2008-05-23|accessdate=2008-05-23]

Construction

The Oasis class will surpass the earlier Freedom Class as the world's largest passenger ships. They will be 23 meters (69 feet) longer, 8.5 meters (29 feet) wider, have a slightly deeper draft than the "Freedom Class" ships, and a gross tonnage that is expected to be 43% greater.Cruise Critic, [http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=2313 Genesis Milestone Reached: Keel Laid in Turku] , retrieved 2007-12-14.] [Travel Mole, [http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1124808.php Work starts on world's largest cruise ship] , 2007-12-12.]

Like the Freedom class, the Oasis class ships will be built by Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. They will be 1,180 feet (360 meters) long, with a gross tonnage of 220,000, and will be able to carry 5,400 passengers. The first of the Oasis class, priced at US$1.24 billion (€ 900 million) reportedly will be the most expensive commercial ship ever built.The Boston Globe, [http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/02/06/royal_caribbean_orders_large_cruise_ship_1139250670/ Royal Caribbean orders $1.24B cruise ship] , 2006-02-06.] It will be 118.1 feet (36 m) longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower and weighing 12 times more than the tower.Fact|date=June 2008 It will also be 48 feet longer than the present longest ocean liner, the RMS|Queen Mary 2|3=2.

The option for a second ship of the class was exercised by Royal Caribbean on April 2, 2007. The second ship is to be delivered by Aker Yards in August 2010. [Aker Yards press release, [http://www.akeryards.com/?page=252&xml=A/134984/PR/200704/1116440 Royal Caribbean orders another giant cruise vessel from Aker Yards] , 2007-04-02.]

On December 11, 2007, the keel of the first vessel of the class was laid down in Turku. In early 2008, Royal Caribbean ended months of speculation by announcing that their two Oasis class ships would be based year-round at Port Everglades.Fact|date=May 2008

On April 15, 2008, Royal Caribbean held a press conference in New York City to release the first official information and renderings of "Central Park", a 5-deck high area in the middle of the ship, open to the sky and filled with lush tropical gardens, upscale restaurants and shops. [Associated Press, [http://travel.sympatico.msn.ca/Royal+Caribbean+Cruises+bringing+Central+Park+replica+to+ocean/TravelNews/ContentPosting.aspx?isfa=1&newsitemid=29900022&feedname=CP-TRAVEL&show=True&number=3&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True Royal Caribbean Cruises bringing Central Park replica to ocean] , 2008-04-17.] The area, one of seven "neighborhoods" onboard the ship, also features the Rising Tide Bar, which will move up and down through 3 decks. There will be 334 staterooms overlooking the Park, 254 with balconies - four of which are wheelchair accessible. Two arched-glass domes in Central Park called the Crystal Canopies will provide sunlight into the ship's inner public spaces. [ [http://www.royalcaribbean-genesis.com/releases/Genesis_Fast_Facts.pdf Royal Caribbean Press Release] , 2008-04-15]

References

External links

* [http://www.royalcaribbean-genesis.com/ Project Genesis] Official Project Genesis website.
* [http://www.akeryards.com/ Aker Yards] official website.
* [http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ Royal Caribbean] official website.